您能告诉我们一些您作为驻英大使期间最愉快的时刻吗？

我是2007年至2010年担任中国驻英国大使的。三年间，我走访过英国许多城市和有纪念意义的地方，结交了很多朋友，包括外交部的同行、其他政府部门官员和各行各业的人士。2010年1月底离任时，我在海德饭店的告别招待会上说：虽然人还未离开，就已经开始想念了。

在英国有过很多愉快时光。我在大学学习英文的时候就比较喜欢英国文学，对一些小说的背景和时代变迁挺感兴趣。在英国期间，一有闲暇就喜欢去寻访文学大师的故居，比如莎士比亚的故乡埃文河畔斯特拉特福、狄更斯出生地博物馆、诗人威廉·沃兹沃斯在湖区的宅院等等。记得一个周日的午后，我寻访到托马斯·哈代故居，正好碰上维修，颇感遗憾，在周围走了走，想象着他所描绘的环境当时会是什么样的情形。

2007年我途经温切斯特的简·奥斯汀故居，漫步在走廊上，感受着简·奥斯汀和她的姐妹们当年在这里生活的气息。每个房间的角落放着一些用塑料薄膜套着的单张说明书，供游客们阅读和了解。司机老魏不会英语，我边看边给他翻译故居里的介绍和说明。这是一个私人博物馆，管理员注意到我们，上前来试探地问我：“请问可否帮助把这些说明书翻译成中文？”他解释说，现在经常有中国人来参观，需要为他们提供更好的服务。我答应了，把一沓子故居说明书带回使馆，翻译好了邮寄回去。现在看来他非常有预见性，慕名到简·奥斯汀故居参观的中国游客越来越多。

疫情前的2019年，访问英国的中国游客超过100万人次，是2009年的5倍多。在英国的中国留学生人数也增长到2018-2019学年的12万人。2020年英国超过美国，成为中国留学生求学的首要目的地国，中国赴海外学习的年轻人42%选择了英国。

您认为担任驻英国大使期间最大的成功是什么？

我任驻英国大使是第三个大使任职，此前曾担任中国驻菲律宾大使、驻澳大利亚大使。中国外交官的驻外任期一般是3至4年。作为大使，除了每天需要处理各种各样的诸多事务，必须考虑在一个不长的任期内去主动拓展两国关系，为双边合作增添点什么，这需要找准目标和认真规划。

大使上任前都会对驻在国做一些了解和研究。我的做法是读几本有代表性的书去了解它的历史和特别之处，听取前任对这个国家的介绍，也会向政府部门相关负责人了解对中英关系的期待和需要解决的问题。这些初步的调研必不可少，但远远不够。上任后，我一般会在三个月内尽可能广泛地接触当地各界人士，走访重要城市和企业、文化教育机构等，在这个过程中去思考、探索自己任内的工作重点。

2007年4月我抵达伦敦履新时，距离2008年北京夏季奥运会只有1年多时间了，国内各项筹备工作已经在紧锣密鼓开展中，中国民众对举办奥运会充满热情，对世界各国的参与和支持也满怀期待。但是，我在英国明显感觉到媒体和舆论对中国有一种负面情绪，当地电视新闻和报纸关于中国的报道存在比较严重的偏差和缺乏事实依据。

中国是一个发展中国家，经济社会发展面临各种各样的困难和问题，我们并不完美。但是英国媒体聚焦的中国负面新闻更多是偏见，而不是我们真正需要去解决的问题，有时甚至是一种情绪的宣泄，这难免会引起中国民众对英国人的傲慢产生反感。究其原因，可以追溯到历史遗留的误解因素，也有当前信息沟通渠道不畅通的问题，英国社会鲜有关于中国的第一手信息。

两国经贸关系和人文交流的健康发展，离不开两国民众之间的客观认知和一定程度的真诚好感，所以我决定将与媒体沟通作为自己第一步主动开拓的重点方向。为此，我大量阅读和多方走访，了解英国媒体的历史和新闻机构的现状，然后开始接受电视和纸媒的采访并发表文章。

对我而言，这是一项极具挑战性的工作，需要比较好的知识积淀，需要对自己国家的政策、成就和挑战有深刻的认识，也需要对英国社会对中国的看法和兴趣比较准确的把握。最重要的是，要能够将中国的观点和信息以一种积极、令人信服的方式传递给西方公众。因此，我需要接受与媒体打交道的专业培训，以提升应对媒体尖锐采访的能力。

当然，努力是有回报的。当国际社会关注到中国、甚至涉华议题成为媒体报道和争论的热点时，大使馆如果能够及时提供第一手信息和权威观点，就有助于树立中国形象，而外界对中国的了解越多，沟通渠道就会越通畅。

我任驻英国大使期间，在促进沟通交流方面和使馆的同事们一道下了比较大的功夫，收获了好的社会反响。

在您担任驻英大使期间，两国之间最重要的外交时刻是什么？

中英两国建立了全方位的双边关系，多层次、多领域的交流活跃。两国交往过程中有很多高光时刻，很难说哪个更重要，其中有一件事让我印象深刻。那是2008年，在5月12日中国四川省的汶川发生8.0级特大地震之后，英国社会各界纷纷伸出支持和援助之手。

地震造成巨大的人员伤亡和财产损失。中国政府、军队和民间力量全面动员，在党中央的坚强领导下，倾力协作，全力救援，在抗震救灾过程中展现出来的中华民族团结一心、守望相助的民族精神令人动容。

在信息快速传播的时代，汶川抗震救援工作基本是在世界围观之下展开的，国际社会同步获悉了汶川地震灾难的情况，深切感受到中国人民的悲伤和勇毅，由此也激发起英国民众广泛的同情、关心和支援。中国驻英国大使馆源源不断地收到来自社会各界的捐助，有来自企业的大额捐赠，也有普通民众的捐款，有幼儿园小朋友们在老师的带领下来到使馆，用他们的小手把硬币放到桌子上。有一个13位警察组成的小队从伯明翰长途骑自行车114英里来到伦敦，为汶川地震募捐；还有位青年伊萨克·路易斯从威尔士徒步240英里走到伦敦，一路募捐，把钱送到使馆。

2008年5月20日下午，我们在使馆大厅为汶川地震遇难者举办追悼会，时任英国首相布朗前来吊唁，与我们一起为遇难者默哀。他在吊唁簿上写到：“在此苦难和悲痛时刻，我代表英国人民向中国人民表示哀悼。”追悼会上，馆员的孩子们手持蜡烛，用稚嫩的童声朗读了一首悼念地震遇难儿童的诗[1]，感人至深，在场许多人流下了热泪。这一时刻中英两国人民的心跳动在了一起，这一时刻也深深印在我的脑海里，英国民众表现出来的同情和慷慨，给予我推进中英关系发展的坚定信心。我相信，无论遇到什么困难，只要双方能够坦诚相见、真诚沟通，就不难找到超越分歧、携手合作的路径。

担任驻英大使期间，您对英中贸易协会为英中商业关系所做贡献的评价？

英中贸易协会作为英国政府和工商业界共同支持的对华经贸促进机构，是推进中英双边贸易和经济技术合作的重要组织。无论是在中英关系高歌猛进之际，还是两国关系出现困难挫折之时，英中贸易协会始终是双方经贸合作的促进者、参与者和推进者。

在我担任驻英国大使期间，英中贸易协会组织了大量的研讨、参访和交流活动，为两国企业之间增进信任、便利往来、沟通出现的困难和问题、增强人文交流等，发挥了不可或缺的作用，对中英关系一步步迈上新台阶作出了重要贡献。

2007年我出任驻英国大使的那年，中英贸易额是541.5亿美元[2]，2021年这个数字突破了千亿，达到1100多亿美元。中国成为英国在亚洲的最大贸易伙伴。两国双向投资规模累计近500亿美元。两国关系迎来了黄金合作发展期。

当前世界动荡不安，国际局势起伏不定，矛盾冲突凸显，反全球化和逆全球化浪潮冲击着世界和平发展的形势。但是，中英两国合作的基础没有动摇，我们要对前途保持乐观积极的态度，未来双方拓展经贸关系、全方位合作的空间和潜力仍是巨大的。关键在于中英双方是否有足够的智慧和勇气，理性、客观地面对彼此不同的观念和立场，尊重各自国家基于自身历史和文化形成的思维方式和发展成就，让双方全面合作关系尽可能少受干扰。就像中国国家主席习近平3月25日同英国首相约翰逊通电话时所说的，中方愿以坦诚、开放、包容的态度同英方开展对话合作，希望英方以客观公正的态度看待中国和中英关系，同中方一道，推动两国关系不断发展。

FORMER AMBASSADOR FU YING: FOND MEMORIES OF MY TIME IN BRITAIN

15 April 2022

Focus, China-Britain Business Council

Can you tell us about some of your most enjoyable moments during your time as ambassador to the UK?

I served as Ambassador of China to the United Kingdom from 2007 to 2010. During my term, I took every opportunity to explore cities and places of interest, and made many friends, from colleagues in the then Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and other government departments to people from all walks of life. I enjoyed my life in Britain so much that even before my return to China in January 2010, I confessed at my farewell reception at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel that I was already missing this country.

My time in the UK had many enjoyable moments. I have been fond of British literature since I was a student of the English language. I was curious about the background of those fascinating stories and the changing times portrayed in the novels. One of my hobbies in the UK was seeking out where those literary masters grew up, their residences and the surroundings. Such trips took most of my spare time. I visited Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s hometown, Charles Dickens’ Birthplace Museum, and the poet William Wordsworth’s residence in the Lake District, to name a few. I was disappointed that Hardy’s Cottage was under renovation when I finally found the place on a Sunday afternoon. But I walked around the place,trying to picture in my mind how the scenes Hardy depicted in his stories may have looked like at that time.

In 2007, I came upon the Jane Austen Museum in Winchester during a trip. Walking through the corridors, I tried to feel the atmosphere in the rooms where she and her sisters spent their lives. There were pamphlets covered in plastic film and placed in every room for the visitors to read as guides. My driver, Mr. Wei, did not know English, so I acted as translator for him. The curator of the private museum noticed us. As we were leaving, he approached me and said, “I am wondering if it is possible for you to help us translate these pamphlets into Chinese?” He noticed that I was interpreting for Wei. He explained that the Museum has started receiving Chinese visitors, and he would like to provide them with better service. I accepted the request, brought those pamphlets back, had them translated and then mailed back. Now, there are more and more Chinese visitors going there out of admiration for Jane Austen. Obviously, the curator had a good sense of what was to come.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, more than 1 million Chinese tourists visited the UK in the year 2019 alone, five times more than the number in 2009. In the academic year 2018-2019, there were 120,000 Chinese students studying in the UK. In 2020, among the Chinese youngsters who sought overseas education, 42% went to the UK which surpassed the US to become the top destination for overseas Chinese students. 

What were the biggest ambassadorial 

successes during your time as ambassador to the UK?

The UK was my third ambassadorial post. Prior to the UK, I served as the Chinese Ambassador to the Philippines and Australia. The term of Chinese diplomats stationed abroad is usually three to four years. Apart from loads of routine affairs to handle, I would try to identify the focus of my endeavours during my term in order to add my contributions to bilateral relations in the limited time of my term. To achieve this, I needed to find the right target and make proper planning.

Before assuming an ambassadorial post, a must-do for me was to research the host country. I would read a few books to learn about the history and unique aspects of the country and talk with my predecessors to learn more about the relationship. I would also meet Chinese government officials in various areas and learn about their expectations for China-UK ties. All this was an important first step but it was never enough. After arriving at my post, I would spend the first three months trying to find the focus by reaching out to different communities and visiting cities, companies, and cultural and educational institutions. These visits would give me lots of food for thought as I reflect on where I should focus my efforts during my term as the Ambassador.

When I arrived in London to take up my office in April 2007, it was one year away from the 2008 Beijing Olympics and preparations for this greatest sporting event had been well underway. The Chinese people were very enthusiastic about hosting the Olympics. They wanted to open their arms to welcome the world’s participation and support. However, in London, I could sense some negative sentiments from the British media and in the general discourse about China. China was portrayed in the media with biased tones and poorly researched facts. 

Indeed, as a developing country, China was far from perfect and was confronted with difficulties in its economic and social development. But much of those negative views propagated under the spotlight were not even close to capturing the real challenges we were addressing. Sometimes the views about China were irrational, if not downright paranoid. I could see that such misrepresentation of China was drawing a backlash against British arrogance among the people in China. While one of the reasons behind such media negativity about China could be traced back to historical misperceptions, the ineffective channels of communications was also to blame as firsthand information about China was hard to come by in the British society.

The world around us has been witnessing rising turmoil and uncertainties. However, there is no reason to be pessimistic about the future of China-UK relations, as the foundation of our cooperation remains solid

Acknowledging that mutual objective knowledge and friendly feelings among the two peoples provide a solid foundation for developing sound economic and trade relations as well as people-to-people exchanges between our countries, I decided to take media communications as my main area of focus in the UK. With this in mind, I first learned about the British media by reading about their history, visiting some news outlets and talking with the editors. Having laid the groundwork, I started to take interviews and contribute articles to British media. 

For me, this was immensely challenging, as it not only required good knowledge of my own country, its policies, progress and difficulties, but also a good grasp of the British people’s perception and interests about China, and most of all, a capacity to craft and present China’s perspectives and messages in a positive and convincing way to a Western audience. I needed training on dealing with the media to equip myself for tough interviews. 

These efforts paid off. When issues about China were drawing international attention, or even became hotly debated by the media, the ability of the Chinese Embassy to promptly provide firsthand information and authoritative views would go a long way to building up China’s international image. The more the outside world knows about China, the easier it is for us to communicate with one another.

During my term as Chinese Ambassador to the UK, my colleagues and I made great efforts to promote such communication and exchanges and our work was met with positive responses.

What were the most significant diplomatic moments between the two countries during your time as ambassador to the UK？

The relationship between China and the UK is a comprehensive one, involving dynamic exchanges at all levels and across multiple areas. There was never a lack of highlights or significant moments between our countries. So it would be hard to single out the most important one. One of the moments that left a lasting impression on me was the overwhelming support China received after the magnitude 8.0 earthquake that struck Wenchuan of Sichuan Province, on 12 May 2008. 

The earthquake caused terrible human casualties and property damages. China was fully mobilised. From the government to the military, from businesses to the general public, everyone joined the rescue and relief effort under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China. People pitched in from all over the country in an all-out effort to savelives. The unity and heroism demonstrated by the Chinese nation in the face of adversity touched the hearts of many.

In an information era, the disaster relief operation in Wenchuan was carried out with the whole world looking on. The international community not only learned about the scale of the disaster in real-time but also shared the deep sorrows of the Chinese people and marvelled at their bravery and perseverance. The people of the UK showed deep sympathy and support to us. In London, my Embassy was flooded by offerings of support and donations from the British society, including large donations given by leading companies and contributions from the general public. Children from kindergartens led by their teachers came to the Embassy and put coins from their small hands on the table. A group of 13 policemen raised donations by biking 114 miles from Birmingham to London. A 19-year-old boy called Isaac Louis walked from Wales for 240 miles collecting donations all the way and sent the money to the Embassy.

On the afternoon of 20 May 2008, a memorial service for the victims of the Wenchuan Earthquake was held at the Embassy. Mr Gordon Brown, the then British Prime Minister, came in person to offer his condolences and observe a moment of silence together with us. In the condolences book, he wrote, “On behalf of the British people my sincere condolences to the Chinese people who have suffered.” During the service, children of the Embassy staff, holding candles in their hands, read aloud a poem with their tender and youthful voices to commemorate the children lost in the earthquake. Many attendees shed tears at this touching sight. At this moment, the hearts of the Chinese and British peoples were beating as one, which was a scene forever imprinted on my mind. The compassion and generosity of the British people boosted my confidence for pressing ahead with China-UK relations. It led me to believe, no matter what difficulties lied ahead, with candor and sincerity, we would always work out a way to deal with challenges while promoting cooperation.

How do you think CBBC helped UK-China business relations during your time as ambassador to the UK?

The China-Britain Business Council (CBBC), which enjoys the support of both the British government and the private sector, has served an important role in boosting bilateral trade and economic and technological cooperation. It acts as an indispensable facilitator, participant, and supporter of our economic and trade cooperation all through the ups and downs of our bilateral ties.

I remember the many workshops, visits and events the CBBC organized during my term as the Chinese Ambassador to the UK. These efforts have helped to enhance confidence and trust among the business communities, facilitate exchanges, address difficulties and encourage people-to-people linkages. The CBBC has played an irreplaceable role and made significant contributions to elevating our bilateral relations to a higher level. 

In 2007, the year I took office, trade between our two countries was USD 54.15 billion. In 2021, the figure surpassed USD 110 billion, making China the largest trading partner of the UK in Asia. Cumulative two-way investment reached about USD 50 billion. Booming trade and investment flows have ushered in a golden period of cooperation between our countries.

The world around us has been witnessing rising turmoil and uncertainties. Anti-globalization and de-globalization waves are impacting the trend of peace and development that has emerged alongside globalization. However, there is no reason to be pessimistic about the future of China-UK relations, as the foundation of our cooperation remains solid. There is still great potential and room for expanding our economic and trade relations and multi-dimensional cooperation. What is required of the two sides is to muster the wisdom and courage to come to an objective and rational understanding of each other’s perspectives and positions, to respect the different ways of thinking and achievements which are rooted in their different history and culture, and to protect bilateral cooperation from disruptions as much as possible. During his phone call with Prime Minister Boris Johnson on 25 March, President Xi Jinping reaffirmed China’s candid, open and inclusive approach toward dialogue and cooperation with the UK. He called on the UK to view China and China-UK relations in an objective and impartial light and work with China to keep moving bilateral ties forward.

文章英文2022年4月15日首发于英中贸易协会电子杂志 FOCUS ，中文经作者本人授权，首发CISS公号。